Quality of Life

Perhaps one of the more subtle, but pleasant advantages to living in Spearfish is its climate. The climate is semi-arid, with four distinct seasons and nearly 227 days of sunshine a year. July tends to be the warmest month in the region, with an average daily high temperature of 85°; while January is typically the coldest month of the year with an average high temperate of 36°. March tends to be the month with the most snowfall, with a little over 12 inches on average. Mild, sunny days are common throughout the winter and occasional "Chinook" or warm winds frequently come as a pleasant surprise. Residents like to boast that Spearfish has "Banana Belt" weather during the winter months when the rest of the Midwest might be shivering.

Spearfish Climate

Average Daily Temperatures

High

Low

Average

January

36°

14°

25°

July

85°

58°

72°

Rainfall in Inches

21

--

--

Snowfall in Inches

61

--

--

Number of Days Sunny (Annual)

227

--

--

Elevation (Means Feet Above Sea Level)

3,648

--

--

Weather Fact: Spearfish holds the world record for the fastest temperature change. On January 22, 1943 at about 7:30 a.m., the temperature in Spearfish was −4°F. The Chinook wind picked up speed rapidly, and two minutes later (7:32 a.m.) the temperature was +45°F. The 49°F rise in two minutes set a world record that still holds. By 9:00 a.m., the temperature had risen to 54°F. Suddenly, the chinook died down and the temperature tumbled back to −4°F. The 58°F drop took only 27 minutes

Spearfish - known for its pristine community - offers a multitude of housing options for area residents. You’ll find a mixture of new single-family homes, historic homes, mountain retreats, farm and ranch properties, townhouses and new apartment complexes. Over the past 10 years, several well-planned subdivisions have been developed with executive style housing in mind. The housing stock in Greater Spearfish has 6,405 units of which 58 percent are owner-occupied-single-family units and 42 percent are single and/or multiple-family rental units. The median selling price cost for a single-family home in Spearfish is $170,000. Rent for a multiple-family unit ranges from $400 to $850 depending upon number of bedrooms and amenities offered. New construction will be an ongoing activity in order to meet the needs of the growing population.

Image a place where you can leave your car doors unlocked and keys in the ignition. Spearfish, SD boasts one of the lowest crime rates in the nation. Nationally, South Dakota ranks 47th lowest in the total crime index. The Spearfish Police Department, which has been recognized nationally with several awards, helps maintain this low crime rate with 20 fulltime commissioned officers.

Black Hills Airport located in Spearfish is the largest and fastest growing general airport in South Dakota. It offers more services and opportunities than any other general airport in South Dakota and caters to corporate air travelers. Black Hills Airport is adjacent to Interstate 90 near the Spearfish Business & Industry Park, and only four miles from downtown. The 5,800 foot hard-surface and lighted main runway can handle up to 45,000 lbs. gross weight. Charter flights and rental cars are available at the airport. Annual flights exceed 5,000.

Commercial services are available at Rapid City Regional Airport which is a 45 minute drive from Spearfish. Delta, United Airlines, American Airlines and Allegiant Air provides 15 daily flights to Minneapolis, Denver, Chicago, Las Vegas, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Phoenix/Mesa and Salt Lake City.

Recognized as one of the top "50 Sports Town of America" by Sports Afield, Spearfish is an outdoor sports enthusiast's dream. It’s a community that loves outdoor recreation, with ample opportunities for fishing, rafting, hiking, bicycling, boating, and more, all close to the population centers. Paved walking and biking trail systems are standard throughout the community enabling residents of all ages to safely walk, bike, and enjoy the outdoors. National parks and forests, state parks, county parks, and city parks, as well as designated open space and open land areas, are found throughout the region and are treasured by residents. Situated on the edge of a 1.2 million acre national forest, Spearfish provides endless opportunities for playing outside.

Aside from the naturally inviting beauty of Black Hills of South Dakota, Spearfish has a rich historic past with a wide array of artistic and cultural outlets. Black Hills State University and the Mathews Opera House & Center for Arts provides the backdrop for much of the cultural activities within the community. Because our large tourism industry, several area attractions are located nearby to educate and entertain area residents.

Throughout the year, it is not uncommon to find more than one festival or event taking place at any one time. The Mathews Opera House Theatre is home to several community and professional traveling theater productions. The Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is home to over 300 animals of 40 different species including tigers, leopards, bears, African lions and more. While the historic D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery plays host to grand daddy trout. BHSU Summer Stage offers affordable, quality, live theatre entertainment during the month of July and first week of August. The High Plains Western Heritage Center honors the old west pioneers of the Midwest. The Festival in the Park is one of the largest outdoor summer arts festivals in the upper Midwest. This annual event is held the third weekend in July and attracts over 150 juried craft, arts and 25 food booths with an emphasis on handmade arts and crafts. During summer months, from the second Friday in June until Labor Day Weekend, you can enjoy Downtown Friday Nights Concert Series. What better way to spend a Friday night than with live music, great food, street vendors, and entertainment for the family.